Reintegration of child soldiers in Burundi: a tracer study

BMC Public Health

Brandon A Kohrt⁶  Theodora Nisabwe¹  Aline Ndayisaba³  Wietse A Tol⁴  Ivan H Komproe²  Mark JD Jordans⁵ 

[1] Department of Psychology, Bujumbura University, Bujumbura, Burundi;Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;Burundi Country Office, HealthNet TPO, Bujumbura, Burundi;Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins, New Haven, USA;Center for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, George Washington University, Washington, D.C, USA

关键词: Burundi;    Conflict;    Mental health;    Reintegration;    Child soldiers;   

Others  :  1162930
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-12-905

 received in 2012-02-25, accepted in 2012-10-15,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Substantial attention and resources are aimed at the reintegration of child soldiers, yet rigorous evaluations are rare.

Methods

This tracer study was conducted among former child soldiers (N=452) and never-recruited peers (N=191) who participated in an economic support program in Burundi. Socio-economic outcome indicators were measured retrospectively for the period before receiving support (T1; 2005–06); immediately afterwards (T2; 2006–07); and at present (T3; 2010). Participants also rated present functional impairment and mental health indicators.

Results

Participants reported improvement on all indicators, especially economic opportunity and social integration. At present no difference existed between both groups on any of the outcome indicators. Socio-economic functioning was negatively related with depression- and, health complaints and positively with intervention satisfaction.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates promising reintegration trajectories of former child soldiers after participating in a support program.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Jordans et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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